Rooted and Built Up in Him - Your Nightly Prayer - May 2nd

Rooted and Built Up in Him
Your Nightly Prayer 
by Britt Mooney 

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

“Rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught.” Colossians 2:7

SOMETHING TO PONDER 

It doesn’t take much education to recognize how important a plant’s root system is. The roots impact the life and health of the entire plant. Damaging a tree at the branches or the trunk might kill it, but with healthy roots and nourishment, the tree will recover, however scarred it might be. 

The Bible commonly uses plants as metaphors for spiritual growth. And Paul continues the theme with this verse. In context, the apostle encourages the church to stay strong in faith. He points out that we must receive Christ as Lord and walk in him. He further explains what it means to walk in him—to be rooted and built up in him. Prepositions have meaning, and Paul uses “in” for these ideas. Our life is in Christ. We live within his being, as he lives within us through the Spirit. The New Testament tells us to be “in Christ” around 150 times. 

To be rooted in Christ, we find our sustenance and nourishment within him, not the world or any other source. He’s the soil, water, and sun. Our roots need to grow deep within him as a person. Simple and necessary.  Since he’s our source, we are built up in him. God is life; no growth happens apart from him. Whatever is of Christ will endure eternally, from our own being to the works we do. Therefore, we must always think and act from and in the Messiah Jesus. 

Paul ends the thought with, “strengthened in the faith as you were taught.” “The Faith” is different from “faith.” Faith is believing and acting on God’s word and revelation. The Faith (Jude 1:9) is a set of truths about God, presented as doctrine, codifying God’s self-revelation.  Being rooted in Christ the Person strengthens us in his self-revelation and in the right teaching about him. 

Remaining committed to this process, as mystical as it might seem, will transform our thinking, which then manifests in our actions and behaviors, in how we treat people, and in our fidelity to the truth. 

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER 

Heavenly Father,
Plant my life deep within you. Grow my roots in your love and truth, your presence, and your Spirit, so I get my strength from you alone. Guard my heart from seeking nourishment in the world or myself. Build my life on this foundation and transform my thoughts and actions through the power of your Word. Strengthen me in the Faith, and help me live from and in you so that everything I do glorifies you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen. 

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON 

1. What are some ways you try to find your strength from the world or yourself instead of Christ? 
2. What are some areas where God has taught you to trust him alone? Your work or relationships? 
3. How could you reimagine spiritual disciplines and use them to help you keep your mind and focus on the Person of Christ? (Bible reading, prayer, fellowship, etc.)

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/fizkes

Britt Mooney lives and tells great stories. As an author of fiction and non-fiction, he is passionate about teaching ministries and nonprofits the power of storytelling to inspire and spread truth. Mooney has a podcast called Kingdom Over Coffee and is a published author of We Were Reborn for This: The Jesus Model for Living Heaven on Earth as well as Say Yes: How God-Sized Dreams Take Flight.

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